5 years!

Today is our 5th wedding anniversary.

Wow. Time flies, doesn't it?

In five years, we:

- had four residences - two apartments, one town house and the mountain home (that's up for sale)
- gained three nephews (one born a few days ago!) and one niece. We only had one nephew when we married.
- married off three sisters - My older sister and his two younger sisters.
- one of us (ahem, me) left our twenties and the other one went from his early thirties to late thirties.
- both gained a little weight, me more than him (dang stubborn baby weight!)
- sponsored two Compassion children.
- had two amazing blessings we call Madeline and Gabriel.

Those are just some of the high points.  I'm so grateful this little blog has become a place where I store up memories, thoughts and ramblings.  Five years and 451 posts later, I have a repository of our life together.  A life that I feel so, so blessed to live.  I live a completely charmed life I have a man who loves me no matter what and two healthy children, a house that is more than plenty and health. But more on the man who has agreed to spend his life with me.  Craig...this is for you.

My Mister - 


We've known each other now for 10 years and I'm honored to be your wife and stand by your side.  You have taught me to not only give abundantly, but give with an incredibly gracious heart. You are a man of God, through and through, and you love me for who I am.  You kiss me hello and good bye every time you leave or enter the house...and our children see that.  You are who you say you are and anyone who meets you knows you are genuine to the core.  You manage our finances and track them on the super spreadsheet with trending, graphs and analysis.  I know it may seem like I'm not as in love with the spreadsheet king, but the reality is that I completely trust you.  You have integrity, show grace to others and dedicate yourself to the people around you.  How did I get to lucky to meet someone so wonderful?  I don't know, but I do know that I'm forever grateful that God crossed our paths, however brief it was in the beginning.  People say that marriages are hard in the beginning - sharing toothpaste, bank accounts, blankets, milk, personal space - but I immediately felt at home when I became your wife.  You tolerate the wind tunnel I insist on sleeping with and have supported me through two crazy birthing experiences and entertained my notion to go at it drug-free.  You don't mention my shoes downstairs, despite me knowing it drives you bonkers.  You reiterate to me that the house may be messy, but that I'm investing in our kids and that the mess is OK.  You let me hold the remote and pick out stupid movies.  You don't question, ever, how I spend our money and insist on me treating myself.  You intentionally do things just to make me happy.  And I could go on and on...


Thank you for giving me your heart and leading our family.  Thank you for loving me so deeply and for tucking me in every night with:


"Do you feel safe? Do you feel loved? I think you're beautiful..."


Happy Anniversary Craig!  


All my love-
Jennifer